Monday, 31 October 2011

The Secluded Blogfest - Updated

Having a passion for reading and following some fantastically written blogs as well as blogging myself about my own food and cake exploits over the last year or so, I am always finding myself talking to people about the world of blogging when getting into conversations about most things lately!

At a secret leisurely location somewhere approx. 7 miles from Cambridge City Centre.....

Address emailed to you a few days prior to the event to get you really excited!...

Limited seatsfor this very relaxed and informal blogging event, you are given the opportunity to meet 3 VERY SPECIAL GUESTS to talk to you about blogging and tell you all their stories, ideas, tips and thoughts on the world of blogging and social networking.

As well as giving you the chance to bring your laptops along and make use of the WIFI access at my top secret country hide out to write a blog post, tweet and facebook your friends & followers live from the event or if you are new to blogging even get started with your first blog using the expertise around you. Why not even get snap happy with your cameras in this inspiring countryside location? ....

Not only using my special guests as inspiration, but using your fellow guests to chat to and help get you excited about blogging, whatever point you are at in the blogging world : )

PLAN OF BLOGGING ACTION:

10am - Arrival & Welcome

(A chance to network & meet your fellow bloggers)

10.15am - Guest Speaker - "The Power Of Marketing Through Social Media"

With 15 years marketing, design and journalistic experience, Mel is the Social Media Guru of Cambridge with a passion for networking both online as well as though local networking groups.

She will be here to help you set up your new blog and help with any existing blogs and technical help you may need, as well as talking about her passions in the blogging world and will give you her best advice & experience on how to optimise your marketing through social media.

Liz Fraser is a new friend to The Secluded Tea Party and is a best-selling author of three hilarious books about the realities of being a mum and raising children, as well as being a fantastic TV parenting commentator. She will be at this event to talk about finding your own VOICE and making it YOURS, rather than a copy of other blogs. As a writer, she feels very passionate about this topic and she will be here throughout the day to give you her input and advice on your own blogs and ideas.

ReeRee Rockette is a blogger, creator of "Wonderful Women: Minding Our Own Business" a support network for creative women in business as well as being the owner of Rockalily Makeup in London. She will be at The Secluded Blogfest in Cambridge to inspire all guests with the story of how blogging transformed her life, as well as offering advice & tips on making your blog it's own brand, and rules when you are blogging (And which you can break)!

ReeRee has interviewed some very inspiring business women such as Hayley Southwood at Vintage Scoops Ice Cream, Bernie Dexter, Tara Starlet and Kat Williams of Rock N Roll Bride.

You can see my favourite blog post of ReeRee's, titled "Creating The Life You Want" which was the post that made me realise she was a blogger to follow and inspired me personally.

12 Noon - Guest Speaker - "How to Write a Good Review"with Sian Townsend of Jam Jar PRAnnouncing a surprise guest speaker... My very good Tea Party friend, and creator of the fabulous Secluded Blogfest Posters that you may have seen in many locations across Cambridgeshire... the Lovely Sian Townsend, blogger behindBone White China.

Sian came to theVERY FIRSTSecluded Tea Party back in January whilst also working for local publication, Cambridge Agenda Magazine. She followed up with a fabulous write up on my events and our friendship and love of good foodie places to try together grew from there. She writes her own food blog as well as running a PR company from home and when she isn’t doing any of this she enjoys walking her beautiful puppy, Henry who is the most adorable thing you have ever seen.

12.30pm - Time to Network, Blog and attend The Secluded Blogfest workshop.

Use our Social Media Guru, Mel and the Lovely ReeRee Rockette's & Liz Fraser's advice to help set up a blog, get the most out of your existing blog and to get (re-)inspired.

1.30pm - Tea, Coffee & Cake with a chance to network & use the locations leisure facilities for the rest of the afternoon - Bliss!

Recently I have found that I am meeting two kinds of people on my travels and adventures....

1. The fellow blogger, who loves sitting down and tweeting, facebooking, instagramming (Is that even a word?!) and blogging about the new pair of shoes they are strutting around in their office today, or the piece of cake they are drooling over in the coffee shop queue, or the wonderful meal they have been cooking and enjoying with a loved one (Even if said loved one is putting thumbs up or flipping the bird in the background because they are getting annoyed with you papping yet another piece of well cooked steak on your plate to show the world! - And yes, the world and it's wife does sit and look at these photos hehe... me included ; )

Blogging is a fun and important part of this persons life, and they are making friends and expanding their network through this big white box fueled with their personal stories and photos. It's such a simple thing, but an exciting part of their followers day.

2. The Wannabe blogger, who keeps hearing how wonderful the blogging world is and how easy it is to get started once you have that idea or seed to start growing it and waffling with the rest of the blogging world. This wannabe blogger just hasn't yet found the time to get around to writing their first post, or perhaps just doesn't think they have the technical expertise to be able to start a blog let alone maintain one. I can tell you honestly now, Mr or Miss Wannabe Blogger.... Not many of us DO know much of the technical stuff... most of us just decided to give it a go, we got it started and learnt from each other as we went along hehe. And once you find one brilliant blog to follow, you find a link to a new one, and then another, and another..... And soon you are hooked.

WHICH BLOGGER ARE YOU?.......

Why not take advantage of this fantastic day of blog-related plans and enjoy a very tranquil and peaceful countryside venue, which even offers you the chance to spend the rest of the afternoon using it's sports and leisure facilities to energise or continue relaxing should you desire.

This event is open to everybody, no matter if you are a blog writer or reader... It will be inspirational to anybody, whatever their blog interests or favored subject : )

Read The Secluded Tea Party's Guestbook...

Introducing... The Secluded Tea Party Travelling Venue!

Why Not Book a Home or Garden or even an After-Work Pop-Up Tea Party in my Travelling Tea Party Venue! Contact me for more information and a chat about the endless possibilities! We Can suggest booking for Civilised Hen Parties, Birthday Parties, Children's After School Tea Parties, "Ladies Wot Do Lunch" Tea Parties, Baby Showers, Sweet 16th, 18th, even 21st & 30th Birthdays, all served with beautiful vintage mis-matching china, Home-made Afternoon Tea Treats made & served by Miss Sue Flay.

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The Legal Blurb....

All photographs are my own work (Unless noted with permission from the owners) and should not be used without my permission.

Some recipes here are my own work. It is obvious from reading my Blog whether it is an original recipe, whether it is a previously published recipe from another cook or another source, or whether I have made enough adaptations to a previously published recipe to be able to call the result my own work.

If any of my cooking inspires you to try it (And I really hope that it does!), or make something similar, then please do me the courtesy of acknowledging your source, and linking to the relevant post, as I do for others.